Wichita eagle., 1887-12-25
CHRISTMAS EVE.
CELEBRATION AT THE DIFFERENT
CHURCHES.
Hearts Of the Little Ones Made Happy
By BOunteOus Distribution
Of Gifts,
ST. JOHNS.

the churcn, Wnlle the seats IN the 'front.'
were crowded with the little ones members
of the Sunday school.
The characterization and decoration of
the church caught every eye and elected
the most favorable commentator. Ever
greens and flowers III profusiOn decked the
chancel the altar and the lee
tern. The covers were OF white
and across the dorset were the words
Peace" The whole presented a picture
beautiful and attractive. The center Of
attraction, however for the little ones was
a fine, large Christmas tree which stood
upon the right of the chancel and which
was fairly burdened down with gifts
The Christmas service was conducted by
the Dean, at the conclusion Of which he
made a short address. Although it was
short, yet it contained many good things
worthy OF the earnest consideration of all
who heard the address. After the address
the gifts were presented by the Dean, as
sisted by Mr.. Raymond
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
Again it became evident that the church
building is far inferior in size to the de-
mands of the congregations accustomed to
meet there There was not even standing
room for many who would have witnessed
the Christmas festival at that church last
evening. The children were seated in the
front portion and their parents and numer-
Gus friends filled every available space that
rema ined. At the rear of the pulpit in
plain view of every child in the house there
stood an Old fashioned fire place with huge
brick chimney and brass andironS with
logs Of wood upon them. On the mantle
several tallow candles were burning and a
large platter leaned up against the CHM
ney, giving a homelike appearance. The
ba
eral direction of c. L. Hungatc, assistant
SUPERINTENDENT Of the school.
First, the whole school sang Christ
mas Bells, followed by prayer by Rev. J.
ID. p Hungate. Rev. W +. Harper, pas
tor of the church, then made a few re
marks III which he said that Col VI.
Stewart, who had recently visited the
Holy Land, was expected to tell the chill
dren something about Bethlehem, the
birth place of Jesus, but owing to the fact
of other engagements Col. Stewart could
not be present, however, he had sent a
stick of tamaran wood which he cut with
his own hand on the bank of the Jordan,
where Jesus was baptized, and this walk
ing stick was exhibited to the children.
Rev Harper also said to the children that
God had given to the world his only Son,
and that now the people at Christmas
time were accustomed to make one an
other presents; that God did not desire
money or presents i'll return for his great
gift but did desire that the heart of every
child should be given to Him. The
Old Maids Tea Party" with
Miss Mile Glunt as hostess,
and Sarah Foster, Rose Westgate and Hat
tie Wilbur as visitors, created considerable
merriment and endless fun for the child
rem \ vocal duet the MaybellS and the
Flowers" was rendered by Misses Lillian
Hambln, the director of the choir and Oc
tavia Hobbs.
But the feature that most delighted the
children was the christmas Drama, in
which old Santa Claus came bouncing
down the chimney into full view of the
little folks Fodie Stanley, Freddie Aver,
Louella Edwards and Margaret Foster
were band of little children playing about
the fireplace and expressing many wishes
that Santa would come down and fill their
stockings. lie did come and Mrs. Santa,
too. and they sang for the children "Biddie
Niece NcGaw." j. +. Shearman and Mrs.
L. II. Styles impersonating old Santa
Claus and his wife. The presents
were given out by Santa Claus, and every
child in the house had two and three pres
ents each, boxes of candy, books. and to
each of the boys box of dominOeS, bear
ing on the cover presented by c. +.
Lewis. dealer in boots and shoes. 10 y.
Main s." the teachers distributing the
presents designed for their respective
Glasses. Some of the teachers and older
scholars received some very cOmiCal pres
ents, such as candy box filled with saw
dust, a turnip neatly covered with paper
etc There was a great supply Of presents.
The exercises were interesting and the
children were delighted from beginning to
end, and the older ones, too, seemed to
enjoy it as much rs the children.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The children and their friends commenc-
ed gathering long before the hour appoint
Ell and were comfortably seated in the cen
tral portion OF the church. The church
was handsomely trimmed with evergreen
and banners and notices or the walls
From the chandeliers. the windows and
walls hung festoon> Of evergreen. Above
the platform in the form OF an arc were
the words Christ is born neatly trim
ed in evergreen; on the right OF the pulpit
hung banner inscribed Jesus Christ,
the same yesterday and forever on the
left another banner with saviour like
Sheperd lead lis. at the rear of the main
audience room on the front of the gallery
in white letters upon field OF red Merry
Christmas.
The exercises consisted in singing, dialo-
CUES remarks. oriental scenes the distrI-
button of presents and opening the barrels.
Singing by the school and prayer by the
superintendent. NJ. /. Carver opened the
exercises. \ short address was then given
by Rev. j. ID. Hewitt. pastor OF the church,
on the object Tor which they were work
ing. lie said that tor more shan a month
the children had been collecting money 10Y
the aid of he disabled ministers and JAelr
families. Their collections had been
taken in little barrels. and
although only three-fourth had reported,
$l40 had been collected Tor this purpose.
\ recitation was given by tlela Parks
which WAS admirably done The Kings
of the Orient, by Ned Lagimer, Guy Catd-
web. and Walter Van NUys. AZ in orIen-
tai costumes. was III lnSeresJI- feature
Of the evenings entertainment. They
sang ana gave gifts to the widow Of the
prophet and her family. The oriental
scenes and costumes were admirable.
The dialogue. How 10 spend Christ
mas" by Fannie Lewis Mabel l.ar;mer,
Ollie Reese. ANA Miller Dot Na>>am.
Fannie Williams, Rodolph Hatfield. RoN-
lie CoWley and others, WAS very Interesting
and showed that the little folks could sur
pass their elders. The trans p&renCY. IN
aSmuch as We have done it to one Of the
least OF these We have done Il unto me.
was a great delight as well a. instructive
to the children. When SANTA Claus came
in he captivaJed the children. He certain
~ was q success n a lauGher.
The evening was ali JhaJ could be de
sired-perfectly satisfactory TO all con
cerned.
The children We're all supplied with
presents, Christmas cards. pound boxes OF